New Year, New You, part III: Finding support

December 29, 2010

By now, if you’ve been following the series, you have your intended weight loss method, you’ve gotten the necessary things together as much as you can and you are gearing up for starting a New Year, New You.

Finding support on your journey is crucial to some, and scary for others. For some it might mean allowing people into the ‘secret’ world of overeating and weight loss that many tend to hide and shy away from. For others, it might mean just finding the people who know you best to give off words of encouragement. Regardless of what your individual needs are, get busy finding the support you might need. Even if you don’t utilize it immediately, it’s nice to know that in a weak or unsure moment, there’s someone there who can hold your hand and keep you focused.

For some people, sharing weight loss woes with a thin neighbor or a fit sister might not be so easy. Despite their best efforts, some individuals seem not to understand why that brownie can’t just sit on the plate, uneaten. Regardless of their best intentions, often times family members, friends and loved ones can say hurtful things, believing them to be supportive. Co-workers, neighbors and meeting goers can also have a draw back in support. While they may know what your going through, there’s always the chance that the friendship can turn to a bit of competition.

Be wary of who you choose. If it’s someone you’ve never spoken to about weight loss, tread ightly to see a reaction, a comment, and where their thought pattern is. If it’s something that makes you uncomfortable, or If you are having a hard time reaching out to someone at all, online support might be just what you need.

Online chat and support groups run ramped for weight loss. Everything from a Weight Watchers chat room to an Atkins Diet message board, to individual blogs and websites, online support comes in all shapes, forms, for virtually everyone and anyone. The great thing about online support is that you can get more than one to support different areas of your needs. If you are needing help in the exercise department, the eating department, fitness department, drinking water, etc., chances are there’s a support group thread out there waiting for you. There’s advice from people who have been there, done that as well as medical professionals and trainers that want to help out.

Find your support and in no time, you’ll be learning that you too can be giving support to another along the way. Offering support, advice and your own experience is a vital way to re-enforce what’s been learned.

Support in a weight loss world is something that is not a necessity, but it’s a crucial piece of the puzzle to know that you are not alone, that this is not a journey you have to walk alone on. Whether it be a longtime trusted friend, a family member, or a stranger online in a similar situation, it’s like constantly having a hand on your shoulder saying ‘ let’s do this thing’.